[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2431 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2431
To require the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, to carry out a grant program to assist certain
members or former members of the Armed Forces in transitioning to
civilian life, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 20, 2023
Mr. Bennet (for himself, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Hickenlooper, and Mr. Risch)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Labor, in coordination with the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, to carry out a grant program to assist certain
members or former members of the Armed Forces in transitioning to
civilian life, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``HUBS for Veterans Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR PROVISION OF TRANSITION ASSISTANCE TO MEMBERS AND
FORMER MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES AFTER SEPARATION,
RETIREMENT, OR DISCHARGE.
(a) Definitions.--
(1) In general.--In this section:
(A) Covered individuals.--The term ``covered
individual'' means--
(i) a member of the Armed Forces who is
eligible for preseparation counseling under
sections 1142 and 1144 of title 10, United
States Code;
(ii) a former member of the Armed Forces
who is transitioning from service in the Armed
Forces to civilian life; or
(iii) a spouse of a member described in
clause (i) or a former member described in
clause (ii).
(B) Eligible organizations.--The term ``eligible
organization'' means any nonprofit organization
(including a veterans service organization), State
board, or local board, that the Secretary of Labor
determines, in consultation with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, is suitable for receipt of a grant
under this section pursuant to receipt by the Secretary
of Labor of an application submitted under subsection
(e)(1).
(C) Nonprofit organization.--The term ``nonprofit
organization'' means an organization that is described
in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a)
of such Code.
(D) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary
concerned'' has the meaning given such term in section
101 of title 10, United States Code.
(E) Supportive services.--The term ``supportive
services'' means services such as transportation, child
care, dependent care, housing, and needs-related
payments, that are necessary to enable an individual to
participate in activities supported under this Act.
(F) Transition assistance program.--The term
``Transition Assistance Program'' means the Transition
Assistance Program under sections 1142 and 1144 of
title 10, United States Code.
(G) Veterans service organization.--The term
``veterans service organization'' means an organization
recognized by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the
representation of veterans under section 5902 of title
38, United States Code.
(2) WIOA terms.--Except as otherwise provided, any term
used in this Act that is defined in section 3 of the Workforce
Innovation and Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3102) shall have the
meaning given to such term in such section.
(b) Grant Program.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall, in coordination
with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, carry out a program to award
grants to eligible organizations for the provision of assistance to
covered individuals on the transition of a member or former member of
the Armed Forces from service in the Armed Forces to civilian life.
(c) Duration of Program.--The Secretary of Labor shall carry out
the program under this section during the 5-year period beginning on
the date of the commencement of the program.
(d) Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Labor shall carry out the
program under this section through the award of grants to
eligible organizations for the provision of assistance
described in subsection (b).
(2) Matching funds required.--A grant under this section
shall be in an amount that does not exceed 50 percent of the
amount required by the organization to provide the services
described in subsection (f).
(e) Selection of Grant Recipients.--
(1) Applications.--An organization seeking a grant under
this section shall submit to the Secretary of Labor an
application for such grant at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information and assurances as the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, may
require.
(2) Priority for hubs of services.--In awarding grants
under this section, the Secretary of Labor shall give priority
to an organization that provides multiple forms of services
described in subsection (f).
(f) Use of Funds.--The recipient of a grant under this section
shall use the grant to coordinate for covered individuals any of the
following:
(1) Career and training services, including the provision
of such services available through a workforce development
system.
(2) Mental health services provided by a provider of the
Department of Veterans Affairs or through a nonprofit
organization.
(3) Legal assistance.
(4) Supportive services.
(5) Assistance with accessing benefits provided under laws
administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(6) Non-clinical case management.
(7) Entrepreneurship training.
(8) Such other services that may be related to the
assistance and services set forth in this subsection as the
Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, determines may lead directly to successful
transition to civilian life.
(g) Inclusion in Transition Assistance Program Counseling.--The
Secretary concerned shall include in the information provided to a
member of the Armed Forces during the Transition Assistance Program
information regarding any recipient of a grant under this section that
is located in the community in which that member will reside after
separation, retirement, or discharge from the Armed Forces.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Labor $2,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2024 through 2028 to carry out this section.
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